Art Project Grant

The Art Project program provides funding of up to $5,000 to support relevant, meaningful arts activities with value to the community your organization serves. Support may be used to create, perform, exhibit, or publish artistic works; or to present arts events by contracting the services of other organizations or individuals.

(This grant is the consolidation of Art Project, Arts and Cultural Heritage, Rural and Community Art Project, and Arts Learning. A percentage of funding will be reserved for rural organizations.)

Qualified applicants should apply regardless of their race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, national origin, status as a documented alien, or status as a qualified individual with a disability or protected veteran. Individuals who are Black, Indigenous, People of Color, People with Disabilities, and/or Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual/Agender, Two-Spirit (LGBTQIA2+) are encouraged to apply.

Important Dates for FY25:

Application Open: February 3, 2025
Deadline: March 16, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.
Maximum Award: $5,000
Earliest Start Date: June 1, 2025
Grant Review Date: Tentative Panel Review week April 28 – May 2, 2025
Notification Date: Tentatively week after Board Review, May 23 – 28, 2025

Deadlines are firm, applicants are encouraged to finish in advance of the deadline, staff is available during business hours Monday - Friday from 9am - 5pm to assist. Email info@aracouncil.org with questions or to get in touch with a Grant Advisor for further review and support.

Grant Advisement

Our staff is available to help you sort through your ideas, give feedback on your application, as well as encourage you. The staff serves as advocates for all artists and organizations. Contact our team at info@aracouncil.org to connect with a Grant Advisor.

Grant Review

All applications are reviewed by ARAC Staff for completeness and eligibility before undergoing panel review. Grant award decisions are made by a peer review panel of regional artists, art professionals and local industry experts. Panel recommendations are then reviewed and undergo final approval by the ARAC Board.

Eligibility

Arts organizations MUST be one of the following:

  • Organization or fiscal sponsor with an IRS-designated 501(c)3 nonprofit status within Minnesota

  • College, university or other established higher education institution in Minnesota

  • A public or private school serving students grades pre-K through 12 in Minnesota

  • Tribal Government in Minnesota

Additional Eligibility:

  • The project activity MUST occur within the seven Minnesota counties served by ARAC: Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Lake, Koochiching, and St Louis Counties, as well as the tribal nations of Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, Bois Forte, and Leech Lake within Itasca County

  • The organization MUST produce or present arts programs, services or projects that are relevant to its community and are available to the public

  • The organization has operated as an arts organization or arts program for one full fiscal year and can provide a financial statement for their most recently completed fiscal year at the time of application 

  • Only one application per project or program will be considered for funding

Grant funds may be used for the following:

  • Costs associated with the exhibition, performance, or production of creative work and programming

  • Arts programs (established or ongoing creative endeavor)

  • Arts services (providing services for artists, arts organizations, or the arts community)

  • Arts projects (the origination of a creative endeavor that may include collaborations with artists and other organizations)

  • Support services needed relating to hosting artists and arts organizations (ex. performances by touring artists/companies)

  • Exhibitions such as visual art shows

  • Educational opportunities in the arts (excluding academic credit)

  • Performing arts productions

  • For hosting of arts events by contracting for the services of another Minnesota organization or individual to provide arts programming to our local or regional community

  • Residencies involving a professional artist or culture bearer

  • Workshops, classes, publications, films, and presentations that promote artists or participation in the arts

  • Overcome a barrier to long term success

  • Public art projects or temporary exhibitions/installations

  • Art equipment not exceeding 50% of overall funds requested

  • Reach a new community or market within Minnesota

  • Other projects providing access to the arts for community audiences

Grant funds may NOT be used for the following:

  • General Operating Support (costs related to organization overhead expenses)

  • If your organization is receiving Operating Support from the Minnesota State Arts Board, or direct appropriations from the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment

  • If you receive direct funding from the state you are ineligible to apply for any of our programs 2

  • Re-granting programs (i.e. scholarships)

  • Wellness activities that are principally recreational, therapeutic, or rehabilitative

  • Travel outside Minnesota to present or produce arts

  • Projects primarily for classroom use or in school activities

  • School programs previously supported by state funds

  • Activities not open to the general public

  • Day-to-day expenses associated with the running of a for-profit business, including but not limited to LLC, C-Corp, S-Corp, etc

  • Capital improvements, exceptions made only to meet ADA requirements

  • Equipment more than 50% of the total request amount

  • Activities for the exclusive benefit of an organization’s members

  • Contributions to any persons who hold, or are candidates for, elected office

  • Contributions to any political party, organization, or action committee

  • Activities in connection with any political campaign or referendum

  • Lobbying activities

  • Arts activities that involve the religious socialization of the audience or participants

Grant Project Requirements:

  • Must comply with Title VI, Section 601, of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which states that no persons, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination related to, the arts

  • Must comply with Title IX, Section 1681 et seq. of the Education Amendments of 1972, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Section 6101-6107, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex or age

  • ADA requires that organizations make access to publicly funded projects available to people with disabilities Accessibility Resources:

  • Must maintain complete and accurate records of all activities connected with the grant (i.e. receipts for all purchases)

  • Must have filed satisfactory reporting with ARAC for the most recently completed fiscal year with no outstanding paperwork

  • Must file a final report in alignment with the program requirements. Failure to report may jeopardize any future grant being received by the organization and may result in the organization being required to repay grant funds

  • Must give credit to ARAC in accordance with the Logo Guidelines whenever and wherever credit is being given

    • Neglecting to do so may result in the return of grant funds

  1. Must seek permission from ARAC in writing if a significant change is made to any ARAC funded program or project, please contact grants@aracouncil.org for alteration requests.

Application Process

  • To submit your project proposal and begin your grant application, create an account within our secure online Grant Portal 

  • All applications are submitted via our secure online grants management system, Foundant 

  • Applicants are required to complete and submit their applications by electronic means, including the use of an electronic signature

  • If you don’t have access to a computer you can arrange a time to use a computer at your local library 

  • Late applications are the responsibility of the applicant and will not be accepted. We recommend submitting well before the deadline to avoid technical difficulties that may delay your submitting the application. There are no exceptions, applications are closed automatically at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, March 16, 2025

ARAC Staff Support

  • Please contact us if you need special assistance

  • Our staff is available to help you sort through your ideas, navigate through the application, provide feedback, and serve as a sounding board for all parts of the process

  • Requests for review and feedback must be made in writing at least two weeks prior to the grant application closing date

  • Requests made within two weeks of the deadline are not guaranteed a response as we answer requests in the order received

  • Email review requests to grants@aracouncil.org

Application Insight

Project Criteria

  • Artistic Vision - Inspiration behind past, current and future project

  • Impact of the project on the artist’s career

  • Ability to carry out the project

Grant Application Questions

CRITERIA 1: ARTISTIC VISION (Inspiration)

Reviewers will use your answers in this section to assess the vision of the work you have completed to date and the vision of the work you propose to do. Use the first question to tell us about your previous work. The second is to help us understand the significance of what you propose to do.

Please tell us about your past work.

Please tell us about your past work Describe the artistic quality of the artist(s), group(s), and/or activities involved; and describe the qualifications of the project leaders. If the intended artists or groups have not been selected yet, explain the selection process that will be used. Be as specific as possible.

Please tell us about the project you want to do.

What can you tell us about the artistic vision for this project? Does it continue the type of work you’ve completed in the past or are you heading in a different direction? You’ll be asked to attach a sample of your work.

EXTRA CRITERIA: EDUCATIONAL VALUE - applicable if applying for an arts learning project

Educational Value

Describe the quality, significance, and appropriateness of the arts instruction for the identified learners. This includes the specific qualifications of the teacher(s) or groups involved, as well as the value of the overall concept behind the project. Either here or in the Ability section, please make sure you discuss both your artistic qualifications as well as why we should have confidence in your ability to complete your project. Your lesson plan will be considered both as demonstrating the value of your project as well as demonstrating your ability to complete the project.

Describe the educational vision behind your project.

Describe your qualifications as the instructor, and if appropriate, describe the qualifications of other instructors and why they were selected. Include bios, resumes or other supporting materials in app.

If the intended instructors/project leaders have not been selected yet, explain the selection process that will be used. Be as specific as possible.

CRITERIA 2: IMPACT + EVALUATION

The impact of your project is determined by the project’s appropriateness to furthering or achieving your organization’s artistic goals.

How does this opportunity/project impact you and the community you serve? Tell us about your goals and how you plan to know whether you succeeded in reaching them.

What goals/outcomes do you hope to address or achieve through engaging in this activity? Note: Project goals should focus on how the project will benefit the organization and/or their community.

How will the arts organization evaluate whether or not the goals have been met? Respond to each goal set above.

What goals/outcomes do you hope to address or achieve through engaging in this activity? Note: Project goals should focus on how the project will benefit the organization and/or their community.

How will the arts organization evaluate whether or not the goals have been met? Respond to each goal set above.

Click here for assistance in setting goals and evaluating outcomes.

CRITERIA 3: ABILITY
This pertains to your organization’s capacity to undertake your project. Including: providing a budget that is realistic, feasible, and demonstrates a clear understanding of the scope of your project; adequate support materials; and narrative responses articulating your readiness to undertake the project.

What is your work plan/timetable for completing this project?

How will you use the ARAC funding requested for this opportunity?

  • Be as specific as possible.

  • Include supplies, tools, equipment, your time, etc. 

  • Tell us why we should have confidence that you can execute this project.

  • You’ll be asked to attach an artistic resume, and if applicable, resume or bios of other individuals participating in your project.  

Optional: Is there anything else you would like to tell us about yourself or your proposal? (You can share anything that you feel is relevant)

Proposal Review & Funding Information

How Does ARAC Choose Who Gets Funded?
Decisions about the grants are made by panels of artist peers, art administrators, art supporters, and culture bearers from throughout the Arrowhead Region. If you fall into any of these categories and would like to become a reviewer, please complete a reviewer application. Training and a stipend are provided for all reviewers.

Funding Source
The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council’s Operating Support Grants are made possible through the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the State’s General Fund. 

In 2008, Minnesota voters passed a constitutional amendment creating a new 3/8-cent sales tax to support outdoor heritage, clean waters, sustainable drinking water, parks and trails, arts, history and cultural heritage projects and activities. This amendment is called the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment. Of the total proceeds from the sales tax, 19.75% are dedicated to the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund (ACHF). Those proceeds must be spent only on “…arts, arts education and arts access and to preserve Minnesota’s history and cultural heritage.” 

A large amount of that funding has been allocated to the Minnesota State Arts Board, Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, and the 10 other regional arts councils across the state. ACHF programming must be rooted in principles that guarantee the greatest positive impact with as many Minnesotans as possible and lead to the kind of social, cultural and economic development outlined in this vision. These principles are intended to inform decisions made by the Legislature regarding disbursement of the overall fund. 

Funding decisions, both at the appropriations level as well as at the grant-making level, will respect the constitutional requirement that ACHF funds not be a substitute for traditional sources of funding, including public operating and capital funds, both state and local. You can find more information on ACHF’s 25-Year plan here.